U.S. patent application number 15/721016 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-29 for raising system for vehicle seat.
The applicant listed for this patent is Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile. Invention is credited to Christian COUASNON, Sylvain DESCHAMPS.
Application Number | 20180086237 15/721016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57539451 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180086237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
COUASNON; Christian ; et
al. |
March 29, 2018 |
RAISING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE SEAT
Abstract
A raisable seat for a vehicle, comprising a frame for a seating
portion, a rail, a raising mechanism suitable for moving the
seating portion frame relative to the rail between a lowered
position and a raised position, said raising mechanism comprising
on each side of the seat at least one connecting rod, said
connecting rod having a rod body with an upper end connected to the
frame and a lower end connected to the rail, at least one
connecting rod also comprising a protuberance extending from the
lower end, the protuberance extending facing the rail, said
connecting rod being adapted to deform, in the event of an impact,
between a first state in which a gap separates the rail and the
protuberance regardless of the position of the seating portion
frame between the lowered position and the raised position, and a
second state in which the protuberance is in contact at least
locally with the rail.
Inventors: |
COUASNON; Christian; (Flers,
FR) ; DESCHAMPS; Sylvain; (St. Georges Des
Groseillers, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile |
Nanterre |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
57539451 |
Appl. No.: |
15/721016 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/42709 20130101;
B60N 2/165 20130101; B60N 2/1803 20130101; B60N 2/1615 20130101;
B60N 2/4221 20130101; B60N 2/42736 20130101; B60N 2/42781
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60N 2/427 20060101
B60N002/427; B60N 2/18 20060101 B60N002/18; B60N 2/16 20060101
B60N002/16; B60N 2/42 20060101 B60N002/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 29, 2016 |
FR |
16 59386 |
Claims
1. Raisable seat for a motor vehicle, comprising: a frame for a
seating portion, a longitudinal rail, a raising mechanism suitable
for moving the seating portion frame relative to the longitudinal
rail between a lowered position and a raised position, said raising
mechanism comprising, on each side of the seat, one connecting rod,
said connecting rod having a rod body with an upper end connected
to the frame and a lower end connected to the longitudinal rail,
wherein: said connecting rod also comprises a protuberance
extending from the lower end, the protuberance extending facing the
longitudinal rail, said connecting rod being adapted to deform, in
the event of an impact, between a first state in which a gap
separates the longitudinal rail and the protuberance, regardless of
the position of the seating portion frame between the lowered
position and the raised position, and a second state in which the
protuberance is in contact locally with the longitudinal rail.
2. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shape
of the protuberance is adapted to enable planar support of the
protuberance on the longitudinal rail during contact in the second
state.
3. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
protuberance extends continuously from the body of the connecting
rod with no discontinuity in the material.
4. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
protuberance has a shape locally complementary to the shape of the
rail.
5. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal rail comprises a movable profile and a fixed profile,
the protuberance comprising a portion facing the fixed profile.
6. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein: the
movable profile comprises a horizontal upper web and one lateral
wing extending vertically downwards from the horizontal upper web,
the fixed profile comprises one horizontal wing extended by a
hanging end wall, said hanging end wall facing a lateral wing of
the movable profile, the protuberance extends parallel to and close
to the horizontal wing of the fixed profile.
7. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
protuberance comprises a first part facing the movable profile and
a second part facing the fixed profile.
8. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein: the
movable profile comprises a horizontal upper web and one lateral
wing extending vertically downwards from the horizontal upper web,
the fixed profile comprises one horizontal wing extended by a
hanging end wall, said hanging end wall facing a lateral wing of
the movable profile, the protuberance comprises a first portion
parallel to and close to the horizontal upper web of the movable
profile, a second portion parallel to and close to said lateral
wing of the movable profile, and a third portion parallel to and
close to the horizontal wing of the fixed profile.
9. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, comprising a base
atop the longitudinal rail, the raising mechanism being mounted on
the base, the lower end of the connecting rod being connected to
the base.
10. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the base
is connected to the connecting rod by a pin, the third portion
having an extension along the lower end of the body of the
connecting rod that is smaller than the first portion and the
second portion, the extension of the third portion along the lower
end of the body of the connecting rod corresponding to an angular
portion around the pin of between 60.degree. and 120.degree..
11. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the end of
the third portion has the shape of an arc of a circle.
12. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal rail comprises a movable profile and a fixed profile,
the movable profile comprising a horizontal upper web and one
lateral wing extending vertically downwards from the horizontal
upper web, the fixed profile comprising one horizontal wing
extended by a hanging end wall, said hanging end wall facing a
lateral wing of the movable profile, the protuberance being formed
by a single portion that is both parallel to and close to the
lateral wing and parallel to and close to the horizontal wing.
13. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
protuberance extends along only a portion of the lower end of the
body of the connecting rod.
14. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a free end
of the protuberance has a shape adapted to maintain a constant gap
between said free end and the longitudinal rail during the travel
of the connecting rod to move the seat between the lowered position
and the raised position, in the first state.
15. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the
connecting rod is a front connecting rod.
16. Seat for motor vehicle according to claim 15, comprising a rear
connecting rod, the rear connecting rod also comprising a
protuberance extending from the lower end of the rear connecting
rod, the protuberance extending facing the longitudinal rail.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to raisable seats for motor
vehicles comprising a frame for a seating portion, a longitudinal
rail, a raising mechanism suitable for moving the seating portion
frame relative to the longitudinal rail between a lowered position
and a raised position, said raising mechanism comprising on each
side of the seat at least one connecting rod, said connecting rod
having a rod body with an upper end connected to the frame and a
lower end connected to the rail.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In the known prior art, for example such as patent
FR0702804, the connecting rods of the raising mechanism have an
elongate shape that is substantially symmetrical with respect to an
axis perpendicular to the direction joining the two ends.
[0003] In the event of a frontal crash, it is common for the
connecting rod to be subjected to torsion about the direction of
travel X of the vehicle. There is also a risk of vertical crushing
along the Z axis.
[0004] It is therefore necessary to improve the raising mechanism
in order to limit the lateral displacement of the seat and prevent
the seat from collapsing towards the door and/or the console, in
case of a frontal crash. It is also necessary to prevent a vertical
collapse of the front part of the seat.
SUMMARY
[0005] To this end, in one aspect the invention proposes a raisable
seat for a motor vehicle wherein at least one connecting rod also
comprises a protuberance extending from the lower end, the
protuberance extending facing the longitudinal rail, said
connecting rod being adapted to deform, in the event of an impact,
between a first state in which a gap separates the longitudinal
rail and the protuberance regardless of the position of the seating
portion frame between the lowered position and the raised position,
and a second state in which the protuberance is in contact at least
locally with the longitudinal rail.
[0006] By virtue of these arrangements, in the event of an impact,
the planar contact between the protuberance and the rail absorbs
part of the force, limiting the deformation of the connecting rod
about axis X and along Z. The gap reserved between the protuberance
and the rail, during normal operation, reduces friction and thus
prevents premature wear of the surface of the protuberance and the
irritating noises associated with continuous friction.
[0007] In various embodiments of the invention, use may possibly be
made of one or more of the following arrangements: [0008] the shape
of the protuberance is adapted to enable planar support of the
protuberance on the longitudinal rail during contact in the second
state, [0009] the protuberance extends continuously from the body
of the connecting rod with no discontinuity in the material, [0010]
the protuberance has a shape locally complementary to the shape of
the rail, [0011] the longitudinal rail comprises a movable profile
and a fixed profile, the protuberance comprising a portion facing
the fixed profile, [0012] the movable profile comprises a
horizontal upper web and at least one lateral wing extending
substantially vertically downwards from the horizontal upper web,
and the fixed profile comprises at least one horizontal wing
extended by a hanging end wall, said hanging end wall facing a
lateral wing of the movable profile, the protuberance extending
substantially parallel to and close to the horizontal wing of the
fixed profile, [0013] the protuberance comprises a first part
facing the movable profile and a second part facing the fixed
profile, [0014] the movable profile comprises a horizontal upper
web and at least one lateral wing extending substantially
vertically downwards from the horizontal upper web, the fixed
profile comprising at least one horizontal wing extended by a
hanging end wall, said hanging end wall facing a lateral wing of
the movable profile, the protuberance comprising a first portion
substantially parallel to and close to the horizontal upper web of
the movable profile, a second portion substantially parallel to and
close to said lateral wing of the movable profile, and a third
portion substantially parallel to and close to the horizontal wing
of the fixed profile, [0015] the seat comprises a base mounted on
the longitudinal rail, the raising mechanism being atop the base,
the lower end of the connecting rod being connected to the base.
[0016] the base is connected to the connecting rod by a pin, the
third portion having an extension along the lower end of the body
of the connecting rod that is smaller than the first portion and
the second portion, the extension of the third portion along the
lower end of the body of the connecting rod corresponding to an
angular portion around the pin of between 60.degree. and
120.degree., [0017] the end of the third portion has the shape of
an arc of a circle, [0018] the longitudinal rail comprises a
movable profile and a fixed profile, the movable profile comprising
a horizontal upper web and at least one lateral wing extending
substantially vertically downwards from the horizontal upper web,
the fixed profile comprising at least one horizontal wing extended
by a hanging end wall, said hanging end wall facing a lateral wing
of the movable profile, the protuberance being formed by a single
portion that is both substantially parallel to and close to the
lateral wing and substantially parallel to and close to the
horizontal wing, [0019] the protuberance extends along only a
portion of the lower end of the body of the connecting rod, [0020]
a free end of the protuberance has a shape adapted to maintain a
substantially constant gap between said free end and the
longitudinal rail during the travel of the connecting rod to move
the seat between the lowered position and the raised position, in
the first state, [0021] the connecting rod is a front connecting
rod. [0022] the seat comprises a rear connecting rod, the rear
connecting rod also comprising a protuberance extending from the
lower end of the rear connecting rod, the protuberance extending
facing the longitudinal rail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from reading the following description of one of its
embodiments given by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0024] FIGS. 1a and 1b are partial schematic views of a seat
structure comprising a raising mechanism, in the raised and lowered
position respectively,
[0025] FIG. 2a is a partial schematic view of the device for
driving the connecting rods,
[0026] FIG. 2b shows a detail view of the device for driving a
front connecting rod,
[0027] FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are cross-sections of the front
connecting rod mounted on the base between the rail and the seating
portion frame in three different embodiments,
[0028] FIGS. 4a and 4b are side views of the front connecting rod
in the first embodiment, respectively in the lowered position and
raised position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic and partial representation of a
vehicle seat comprising a seating portion with a frame 1, a
backrest being mounted on the seating portion, the entirety being
mounted on a rail 2 via a raising mechanism 4. In the present case,
a base 3 is on top of the rail 2, the raising mechanism 4 being
mounted on the base 3. The base 3 is secured to the rail 2. The
base 3 may be a separate part from the rail 2 or may be formed
integrally with the rail 2.
[0030] This raising mechanism 4 is designed to move the seating
portion with respect to the base in at least one substantially
vertical direction Z.
[0031] This raising mechanism is obtained by means of connecting
rods 4a; 4b.
[0032] For example, for each of said connecting rods, the lower end
is connected to the rail 2 and the upper end is connected to the
frame 1 of the seating portion of the seat.
[0033] The seating portion frame 1 generally has a right side and a
left side of similar architectures; only one side is shown in FIG.
1, and therefore there are other connecting rods between the
seating portion and the rail on the side not shown, equivalent to
the connecting rods 4a; 4b represented.
[0034] A front connecting rod 4a connects the rail 2 to a front
part 1a of the seating portion frame 1 and a rear connecting rod 4b
connects the rail 2 to a rear part 1p of the frame 1. More
precisely, in the illustrated example, a front connecting rod 4a
connects the front part 3a of the base 3 (pivotable mounting on pin
referenced 31) to a front part 1a of the frame 1 of the seating
portion (pivotable mounting on pin referenced 11), and a rear
connecting rod 4b connects the rear part 3p of the base 3
(pivotable mounting on pin referenced 32) to the rear part 1p of
the frame 1 (pivotable mounting on pin referenced 12). In the
example illustrated, the pivotable mountings of the first and
second connecting rods 4a; 4b are all on pins parallel to the
transverse axis Y, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
X and perpendicular to the vertical axis Z.
[0035] The connecting rods 4a, 4b may be moved independently by
respective control means or may be controlled simultaneously by
synchronized control means or by a mechanical connection which can
connect them.
[0036] When the front connecting rod 4a is pivoted in a
counterclockwise direction by the raising mechanism 4, then the
front part connected to the seating portion is raised upwards;
whereas conversely, when the front connecting rod 4a is pivoted in
a clockwise direction, then the front part of the seating portion
is lowered towards the floor. Similarly, when the rear connecting
rod 4b is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction, then the rear
part of the seating portion is raised upwards; while when the rear
connecting rod 4b is rotated in a clockwise direction, the rear
part of the seating portion is lowered towards the floor.
[0037] When controlling the system of connecting rods 4a, 4b, the
seating portion is moved substantially parallel to the floor, which
is referred to as a "raising" movement as illustrated in FIGS. 1a
(raised position) and 1b (lowered position). Between the lowered
and raised positions, the connecting rods 4a, 4b are pivoted by
approximately 30 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, which
defines the path of the connecting rods between the lowered
position and the raised position.
[0038] The front connecting rod 4a (or rear connecting rod 4b) is
for example integrally connected to a transverse bar extending
along the transverse axis Y and connecting the connecting rod
represented to an equivalent connecting rod arranged on the other
side of the seating portion structure (not shown).
[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the front connecting rod
4a is for example integrally connected to a control plate 43 which
is shown as a metal plate extending in a plane X, Z (detail of FIG.
2b). This control plate 43 is connected directly to the transverse
bar and/or to the connecting rod 4a and comprises, on an end
section of substantially circular shape, a toothed area 44 intended
to engage with a driving device, for example a motorized device 46,
which comprises a pinion 45 directly engaging with the
aforementioned toothed area 44.
[0040] Preferably, such a driving device is provided only on one
side of the frame 1 of the seating portion of the seat; the other
side may not have one. The pinion is arranged so as to rotate about
an axis A substantially parallel to the transverse axis Y.
[0041] A protective housing 47 may be provided to partially or
almost completely cover the pinion 45 with the exception of the
area engaging with the toothed section.
[0042] If appropriate, a second driving device similar to the first
may be provided for driving the rear connecting rod 4b in a similar
manner.
[0043] The base 3 is mounted so as to slide with respect to the
floor of the vehicle by means of longitudinal rails 2 comprising a
fixed profile 21 fixed to the floor of the vehicle and a movable
profile 22 integral to the aforementioned base 3 and sliding in the
longitudinal direction X on the fixed profile 21. In particular,
the base 3 may be made as one piece with the movable profile 22 of
the rail 2. The base 3 and the movable profile 22 are then in the
form of a single part.
[0044] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, and
2a, the base 3 extends along the longitudinal direction X between
the front part 3a and the rear part 3p. However, this embodiment is
not limiting and the base 3 may comprise front and rear parts
separate from one another.
[0045] The fixed 21 and movable 22 profiles are for example of
metal. For example, the fixed 21 and movable 22 profiles fit into
one another to define a hollow internal space. For example, the
movable profile 22 is a male profile and the fixed profile 21 is a
female profile.
[0046] As represented in FIG. 3a and by way of example, the movable
profile 22 may have a substantially U-shaped cross-section. The
movable profile 22 may comprise a horizontal upper web 220 fixed to
the seating portion of the seat. The movable profile may further
comprise two lateral wings 221 which each extend substantially
vertically downwards from the seating portion. The fixed profile 21
may also have a U-shaped cross-section, with a horizontal lower web
210 fixed to the floor of the vehicle and extending parallel to the
web of the movable profile, and two lateral wings 211 each
extending substantially vertically upward from the lower web. At
least one of the lateral wings 211 of the fixed profile extends to
form an inward trough having a substantially vertical hanging end
wall 213, a horizontal wing 212 connecting the lateral wing and the
hanging end wall.
[0047] The front connecting rod 4a comprises a rod body 40 with a
substantially elongate shape. The rod body is substantially
symmetrical with respect to an axis perpendicular to the direction
connecting the two ends of the connecting rod. The connecting rod
4a is in particular slightly incurved within the plane in which it
travels from the lowered position to the raised position. As
illustrated in FIGS. 4a and b, the front connecting rod 4a
according to the invention has a protuberance 5 extending from the
lower end of the rod body 40. As a variant, the rear connecting rod
4b may also have a protuberance 5' with for example the same
properties as those described below. This protuberance 5 is for
example formed by material continuous with the lower end 42 of the
body of the front connecting rod 4a. For example, the front
connecting rod 4a is obtained by shaping a metal structural
part.
[0048] The protuberance 5 extends facing the longitudinal rail 2.
More particularly, the protuberance 5 has a shape locally
complementary to the shape of the rail 2.
[0049] The protuberance 5 is shaped on the external side of the
connecting rod, meaning the side opposite to the side of the
connecting rod intended to be positioned between the two lateral
rails of the seat. The protuberance 5 is also shaped on the side
near the center of the vehicle, or the external side of the vehicle
which is opposite to the side near the center of the vehicle.
[0050] The protuberance 5 will advantageously bear against the
fixed profile of the rail in each of the embodiments.
[0051] In a first embodiment, the protuberance 5 has three portions
extending substantially concentrically with respect to axis 31. A
first portion 5a extends from the lower end 42 of the body of the
connecting rod 40, along only a portion of the lower end 42. A
second portion 5b of the same or less extent along the lower end 42
as the first portion 5a extends from the first portion. A third
portion 5c of the same or less extent as the second portion 5b
extends from the second portion 5b. In plane Y, Z, as illustrated
in FIG. 3a, the set of three portions 5a, 5b, 5c thus forms two
consecutive bends, forming a shape locally complementary to the
shape of the longitudinal rail in cross-section in the plane
transverse to X.
[0052] In particular, the protuberance 5 comprises a first portion
substantially parallel to the horizontal upper web of the movable
profile 22, a second portion substantially parallel to said lateral
wing of the movable profile 22, and a third portion substantially
parallel to the horizontal wing of the fixed profile 21. The
protuberance 5 therefore has a shape that is locally substantially
complementary to the shape of the rail 2, enabling planar support
of the various portions of the protuberance 5 against the rail 2
when the connecting rod 4a is in contact with the rail 2 in plane
X, Z and in plane X, Y.
[0053] In plane X, Z, the end of the protuberance 5 also has a
general shape adapted to allow planar support of the end of the
protuberance 5 against the rail 2 in the event of unusual stress (a
crash) along Z, regardless of the position of the connecting rod in
its travel. The end of the protuberance also has a shape adapted to
maintain a gap between the end of the protuberance of the
connecting rod 4a and the rail 2, regardless of the position of the
connecting rod in its travel.
[0054] The end of the protuberance has in particular the shape of
an arc of a circle about axis 31, which allows the end of the
protuberance to be parallel to the rail regardless of the position
of the connecting rod in its travel, and to maintain a
substantially constant gap between the connecting rod 4a and the
rail 2 along the entire travel of the connecting rod 4a.
[0055] In a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3b, the
protuberance 5 extends substantially parallel to and close to the
horizontal wing 212 of the fixed profile 21. The protuberance 5 has
a shape locally and substantially complementary to the shape of the
rail 2, allowing planar support of the protuberance 5 against the
rail 2 when the connecting rod 4a is brought into contact with the
rail 2 in plane X, Y.
[0056] In a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3c, the
protuberance 5 is formed by a single portion that is both
substantially parallel to and close to the lateral wing (221) and
substantially parallel to and close to the horizontal wing. In this
embodiment, the protuberance 5 will be thick, meaning that the
protuberance will have a substantially rectangular cross-section in
the section plane (Y, Z) having two adjacent sides one extending
parallel to the horizontal wing 212 and the other parallel to the
lateral wing 221. The protuberance 5 therefore has a shape locally
and substantially complementary to the shape of the rail 2,
allowing planar support of the protuberance 5 against the rail 2
when the connecting rod 4a is brought into contact with the rail 2
in plane X, Z and in plane X, Y.
[0057] The protuberance 5 extends along only a portion of the lower
end 42 of the body 40 of the front connecting rod 4a.
[0058] In particular, in the first embodiment, the extent of the
protuberance 5 decreases continuously from the first portion 5a to
the second portion 5b, and then from the second portion 5b to the
third portion 5c.
[0059] In particular, the third portion 5c has an extension along
the lower end 42 of the body 40 of the front connecting rod 4a that
is strictly smaller than those of the second portion 5b or the
first portion 5a, the decreased size forming a "step" between the
two portions. The extension of the third portion 5c along the lower
end 42 of the body 40 of the front connecting rod 4a corresponds to
an angular portion around the pin 31 that is between 60.degree. and
120.degree..
[0060] In the "normal" first state of operation of the raising
mechanism, a gap is maintained between the longitudinal rail 2 and
the protuberance 5, and this remains so throughout the travel of
the connecting rod 4a relative to the rail 2.
[0061] In the case of a frontal impact, in the second state, the
connecting rod 4a tends to deform. The protuberance 5 is pressed
against the rail 2, which limits the possible movements of the
connecting rod 4a around X and along Z.
[0062] In the first embodiment, the first portion 5a comes into
planar contact with the upper web 220, or the second portion 5b
comes into planar contact with the lateral wing 221 of the movable
profile 22, or the third portion 5c comes into planar contact with
the horizontal wing 212 of the fixed profile 21.
[0063] Thus, the contact between the first portion 5a and the upper
web 220 limits the vertical collapse of the seat, meaning of the
frame onto the base. The contact between the third portion 5c and
the horizontal wing 212 has the same effect. The contact between
the second portion 5b and the lateral wing 221 of the movable
profile 22 absorbs a portion of the torsional torque about axis X
generated by a frontal impact, thus limiting the lateral buckling
of the seat.
* * * * *